A grand ceremony was launched on May 19 at the Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort in Qufu, Shandong province to mark this year's National Tourism Day.

China's National Tourism Day, which was first announced by the Chinese government in 2011, falls on May 19 each year, the date when Xu Xiake, a famed travel writer in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) started writing his famous travel books.

Tourists from China and abroad can enjoy free entry to the country's wealth of scenic spots, public museums, memorial halls and patriotic education bases on and around the annual tourism day.

Shandong province launched a series of cultural and tourism activities at the ceremony in a bid to promote its scenic spots and dazzling cultural resources.

A series of measures to promote tourism has been launched as well, including a reduction in ticket prices for some scenic spots, hosting exhibitions and opera performances with free entry and rolling out more customized tourist products.

Under the theme of "integrating culture and tourism and creating beautiful life", the event was jointly organized by the Shandong provincial department of culture and tourism, Jining municipal government and the Shandong Radio & Television Station.

A ceremony is held on May 19 at the Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort in Qufu, Shandong province to observe this year's Naitonal Tourism Day. [Photo/ ctnews.com.cn]

Performers stage traditional dances at the celebrating ceremony of this year's Naitonal Tourism Day on May 19 in Qufu, Shandong province. [Photo/ ctnews.com.cn]

The celebrating ceremony attracts many spectators in Qufu, Shandong province on May 19. [Photo/ ctnews.com.cn]

Traditional dances and music are staged at the Nishan Cultural Tourism Resort to celebrate the Naitonal Tourism Day on May 19 in Qufu, Shandong province. [Photo/ ctnews.com.cn]